Today, Nigeria’s President is 76years old. We Pray for long life, good health of mind and body.
Nairaland join the good people of Nigeria to wish our President a happy Birthday.

Muhammadu Buhari is a native of Daura, a Fulani town situated in Katsina State of Nigeria. He was born on December 17, 1942. He is the twenty-third child of his father, Adamu.

Buhari was raised by his mother, Zulaihat after his father died when he was about four years old. He attended primary school in Daura and Mai’adua before proceeding to Katsina Model School in 1953 and to Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College Katsina) from 1956 to 1961.

Military career

Buhari joined the army in the year 1962 and became the governor of the North-Eastern State during the regime of Gen. Murtala Mohammed. Later, he was appointed Minister or Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976. When the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was created in 1977 Muhammadu Buhari was made its head.

On December 31, 1983, the government of the civilian President Shehu Shagari was removed in a coup d’etat, Major-General Buhari was selected by the high ranking military officials to lead the country.

Muhammadu Buhari is known for his uprightness and zero tolerance for corruption. He introduced a public campaign against indiscipline known as “War Against Indiscipline” (WAI) alongside his deputy, Tunde Idiagbon.

Electoral Battles

President Buhari contested the Presidential election as the candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2003 and lost to Peoples Democratic Party nominee, Olusegun Obasanjo.

In the 2007 April Presidential polls, Buhari contested against his brother from Katsina State, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and he lost.

Gen. Buhari was the CPC Presidential candidate in the April 16, 2011 general election, running against former president Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Ibrahim Shekarau of ANPP, again he lost. In the year 2015, Muhammadu Buhari not deterred by his previous failures, contested for the Presidential election under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) with Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Muhammadu Buhari emerged the winner and was declared the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Marriage

In 1971, Buhari married his first wife, Safinatu Buhari (nee Yusuf) ( December 1983-August 1985). They had five children together, Zulaihat (Zulai) is named after Buhari’s mother. Their other
children were Fatima, Musa (deceased), Hadiza, and Safinatu.

In 1988, Buhari divorced his first wife Safinatu. In December 1989, he married his second and current wife Aisha Buhari (nee Halilu). They also have five children together, a boy and four girls. They are Aisha, Halima, Yusuf, Zarah and Amina. Yusuf and Zahra graduated last year from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom. Halima was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister at Law.

President Buhari is an accomplished Personality and the first citizen of our Motherland, Nigeria.